Touch Typing in Ten Hours

Citation preview

10

Touch Typing in HOURS

howtobooks Please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue to: How To Books, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom email: [email protected] http://www.howtobooks.co.uk

10

Touch Typing in HOURS Spend a few hours now and gain a valuable skill for life

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howtobooks

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Published by How To Books Ltd, 3 Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 793806. Fax: (01865) 248780 email: [email protected] http://www.howtobooks.co.uk First published 2002 All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the express permission of the publisher in writing. © Copyright 2002 Ann Dobson British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Cover design by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions Typeset and design by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford Printed and bound in Great Britain NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in this book. Laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements.

Contents Preface

9

Introduction Getting started

12

Part 1 Drills Hour 1

The Home Keys a, s, d, f, j, k, l, and ; Consolidation

20 21

Hour 2

e and i, g and h Consolidation

24 26

Hour 3

o and n, shift keys and t Consolidation

28 30

Hour 4

Extra practice, full stop and y Consolidation

32 34

Hour 5

Comma and w, r and b Consolidation

36 38

Hour 6

m and u, p and c Consolidation

40 42

Hour 7

v and x, q and z Consolidation

44 46

Hour 8

Sentence drills

48

Hour 9

Figures Consolidation

52 54

Hour 10 Alphabetical paragraphs

56

6 / Touch Typing in Ten Hours

Part 2 Additional Touch Typing Practice Material Sentence practice

60

Paragraph practice

68

Longer practice pieces: Tasks 1–10

76–83

Part 3 – Reference Guide Important symbols and general rules

86

More general rules

90

Line spacing

92

Fonts

93

Margins

93

Paper sizes

94

Manuscript correction signs

96

Abbreviations and their correct spellings

97

Putting together sentences and paragraphs

98

The business letter

101

Memos

104

Emails

105

Reports

106

Contents / 7

Illustrations Correct sitting position Hand chart

12 16–17

Paper sizes – A4

94

Paper sizes – A5

95

Manuscript correction signs

96

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PREFACE Almost everyone today has to use a keyboard. Of course it is possible to use two fingers, or even three and stumble along making lots of mistakes and taking an age to type a single document. But there is a better way. Why not learn to touch type with the help of this new and easy to use book? Almost all keyboards still have the traditional QWERTY layout which was first introduced in the days of manual typewriters, so that the most frequently used keys did not ‘jam’ together. The diagram on each drill page shows this layout and the detachable hand chart shows which finger to use for each key. Touch typing is easy and fun! That is the message the book seeks to convey. Gone are the days when it took months of laborious learning to master the keyboard. In just 10 hours you will be able to type using the right fingers for the right keys. Gradually, using the additional practice material, your speed will increase, and the reference guide at the back of the book will provide you with all the essential information you need to become fully proficient in setting out the important business documents of today. Just think, a few hours now will teach you a skill that will be with you for life. What have you got to lose? Take the book home and start working through it today. By this time next week your hard work will be paying off. Ann Dobson

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INTRODUCTION

12 / Introduction

Getting Started Before beginning to touch type you will need suitable equipment. Today this will usually mean a computer with a word processing package, although there is nothing wrong with learning to touch type on a typewriter. You will need a good sized desk and adjustable chair with a supporting backrest.

Correct sitting position

Getting Started / 13

How you position yourself at your desk will determine your comfort whilst touch typing. In particular, take heed of the following: ◆

HEAD. This should be erect. If you tilt your head forwards it puts a strain on your neck. So does watching your fingers. A poor head position can result in headaches.

◆

SHOULDERS. These should be relaxed.

◆

ELBOWS. Keep them close to your body.

◆

FINGERS. Curve your fingers, but not unnaturally so.

◆

WRISTS. Your wrists should be flat. Aim for a straight line from the knuckles of your middle fingers to your elbows.

◆

FEET. Keep your feet flat on the floor and do not cross your legs.

General points to bear in mind ◆

Use a copy holder whenever possible. They can be purchased cheaply and either stand on the desk or are attached to the monitor. At first it will be best to place the hand chart on this holder, but eventually your work can go there, thus reducing the chance of any eye strain.

◆

Make sure the room lighting is correct. If you are working in an office various rules and regulations will dictate where your equipment is positioned. If you are at home make sure you have the window behind your monitor. There should be no glare, either from lighting or sunshine. It is possible to buy a filter to place on the front of your monitor screen.

◆

Move about frequently so that you don’t stiffen up. Take regular breaks – at least ten minutes every hour.

◆

Have regular eye checks – at least every two years.

14 / Introduction

And off we go . . . Use the Courier New font, 12 point size for all the drills. (See Reference Guide page 91.) This is what we call a fixed font so that each letter takes up the same amount of space, and your lines will all finish at the same point. It is also a good idea to use double line spacing (see Reference Guide page 90), so that you can see your work more clearly. There are eight keys on the keyboard known as the ‘Home Keys’. They are situated in the middle of the keyboard, and from left to right they are a, s, d, f, j, k, l, ;. The four fingers of your left hand go over the a s d f and the four fingers of your right hand go over the j k l and ;. Most computer keyboards have raised points on the f and j to help you locate the right keys without looking. Your fingers should always hover over these eight keys and from this position you reach up and down to every letter, figure and symbol on the keyboard. (See the hand chart for guidance.) Type each line until it is perfect and, most importantly, until it can be typed without looking at the keys or your fingers. This is what is known as ‘touch typing’. At first each line may take many attempts but this does not matter.

Getting Started / 15

Remember ◆

Keep your fingers on the Home Keys.

◆

Say the letters to yourself as you type them.

◆

Make sure you do not get into bad habits by using the wrong finger for the letter you are typing.

◆

Glance at the hand chart whenever necessary – do not look at the keys or your fingers.

◆

Go slowly – work at your own pace. Speed and accuracy need to come together.

◆

Watch your posture.

Above all, remember that successful touch typing takes time and effort. There is nothing clever about it – determination and hard work singles out the good from the bad – as in most things. If you are tired, something starts to ache or everything starts to go wrong, leave it for another time. You will be surprised just how quickly your speed and accuracy will build up if you work hard enough.

So what are you waiting for?!

16 / Introduction

3 2

1

Q A Z

W S X

E D C

4 5

R T F G V B

(if

SP le ACE ftha BA nd R ed )

IFT SH YS KE

LEFT

Getting Started / 17

8 9 6

7

I K , Y U H J N M

(comma)

O L .

0

P

(full stop)

;

(se col mi o SH n)

KE IFT YS

R ) BA ed E and AC -h SP ight r (if

RIGHT

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PART 1 DRILLS HOUR 1: the home keys

20 / Part 1: Drills

The home keys Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

asdf fdsa asdf fdsa asdf fdsa asdf fdsa asdf fdsa asdf fdsa jkl; ;lkj jkl; ;lkj jkl; ;lkj jkl; ;lkj jkl; ;lkj jkl; ;lkj asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa a s d f j k l ; a s d f j k l ; a s d f j k l ; a s d f j k ; l k j f d s a ; l k j f d s a ; l k j f d s a ; l k j f d f j d k s l a ; f j d k s l a ; f j d k s l a ; f j d k s l all; fall falls fad; dad; sad; lad; lass fads dads ask alas alas ask dads fads lass lad; sad; dad; fad; falls fall all; dad asks a lad; dad asks a lass; all dads ask alas; ask all all dads ask; all lads ask; a lass asks; a jaffa asks a lad

Hour 1: the home keys / 21

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; fjdk sla; fjdk sla; fjdk sla; fjdk sla; fjdk sla; fjdk sla; ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa ;lkj fdsa asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; asdf jkl; all; falls fad; dad; fall sad; fads dads ask; fad all; dad; alas ask dads fads lass lad; sad; dad; fad; falls fall all; a jaffa asks a lad; a lad asks; all lads ask; all dads ask; alas a dad falls; all lads; ask dad; a jaffa fad; a sad lad all dads ask alas; a jaffa fad; dad asks a lass; ask a lad; all lads ask; a lass asks; a jaffa asks a lass; a jaffa fad

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HOUR 2: e and i, g and h

24 / Part 1: Drills

e and i Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the d finger and take it up to the e Use the k finger and take it up to the i

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

ded; ede; ded; ede; ded; ede; ded; ede; ded; ede; ded; ede; kik; iki; kik; iki; kik; iki; kik; iki; kik; iki; kik; iki; feed seed deed lead deal seal leak seek feel keel leek less kill fill dill sill jill kiss kill fill dill sill jill kiss dad kisses jill; feed a lad; feed a lass; feed all; see all a sad seal did fall; dad filled a field; a sill leaks alas; a lad did lie; a lass is dead; feed a seal; feed a deaf lad; feed a seal leeks; seek a lead; feed jill a leak; feel sad; ask a deed; a sill leaks; jill falls ill; jaffa kisses jill fill a seed field; ask less if jill is sad; all lasses fall

Hour 2: e and i, g and h / 25

g and h Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the f finger and take it across to the g Use the j finger and take it across to the h

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

fgf; gfg; fgf; gfg; fgf; gfg; fgf; gfg; fgf; gfg; fgf; gfg; jhj; hjh; jhj; hjh; jhj; hjh; jhj; hjh; jhj; hjh; jhj; hjh; gas; has; gale hale gash hash gill hill gall hall geld held high sigh hike like jig; dig; fig; gig; half heel lash dash he liked a jig; she liked a jig; all liked a jig; see a jig a lass sighed; see a high hill; has he held a seal; i asked he held a jaffa as he fell; add a high gas; dig a fig field i like a fig; half a heel has held; jill has a gash; i hike jill digs a field; jill likes a hike; a gas leak kills all; i sigh like jill; jed has a high hall; see jaffa as he jigs

26 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

fill a seed field; ask less if jill is sad; all lasses fall ask a deed; a sill leaks; jill falls ill; jaffa kisses jill feed a seal leeks; seek a lead; feed jill a leek; feel sad; a lad did lie; a lass is dead; feed a seal; feed a deaf lad a sad seal did fall; dad filled a field; a sill leaks alas; dad kisses jill; feed a lad; feed a lass; feed all; see all i sigh like jill; jed has a high hall; see jaffa as he jigs jill digs a field; jill likes a hike; a gas leak kills all; i like a fig; half a heel has held; jill has a gash; i hike he held a jaffa as he fell; add a high gas; dig a fig field a lass sighed; see a high hill; has he held a seal; i asked he liked a jig; she liked a jig; all liked a jig; see a jig

HOUR 3: o and n, shift keys and t

28 / Part 1: Drills

o and n Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the l finger and take it up to the o Use the j finger and take it down to the n

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

lol; olo; lol; olo; lol; olo; lol; olo; lol; olo; lol; olo; jnj; njn; jnj; njn; jnj; njn; jnj; njn; jnj; njn; jnj; njn; dog; hog; fog; log; nog; jog; goon soon loon noon lose hose nose dose none gone lone line fine dine sign nine lane sane a lad had a fine dog; he held his lead; he jogged in a lane fog had soon hidden all signs of a field; he fell on a log; she had a fine salad and half of a fish; she soon had none; he had a fine nose; she had gone insane; she had a fine fig sad lad and his dog had gone jogging in a field and he fell jed dosed on a log; he soon had no dog; he had gone inside;

Hour 3: o and n, shift keys and t / 29

Shift keys and t Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆ ◆

Use the little fingers for the shift keys. The shift keys are used for single capital letters. If you need to type lots of capitals, as in a heading, the caps lock key is better. Use the left little finger if typing a capital letter on the right side of the keyboard and the right little finger if typing a capital letter on the left side of the keyboard. Use the f finger and take it up to the t

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

Ask; See; Don; Fog; Gas; Had; Jag; Keg; Leg; Nag; All; Sag; tag; tog; tin; ton; tan; ten; tea; tie; toll tall till tell That Kill Fill Sell Till Hill Gill Doll Noel Tent Hide Tide Lilt Hilt Silt Tilt Kilt Gilt Talk Gate Hate Fate Late Date I said I hated the doll and that I felt it had a tin leg; She talked of Noel and said she asked if he hated jogging Ask to see Don and see if he sells gates; tents and dolls I said I felt fine and that I jogged in a field at night; He let his dog loose in the field and he fished in a lake The fog had filled the field and I fell on a sagging log;

30 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

jed dosed on a log; he soon had no dog; he had gone inside; the lad and his dog had gone jogging in a field and he fell he had a fine nose; she had gone insane; she had a fine fig she had a fine salad and half of a fish; she soon had none; fog had soon hidden all signs of a field; he fell on a log; a lad had a fine dog; he held his lead; he jogged in a lane The fog had filled the field and I fell on a sagging log; He let his dog loose in the field and he fished in a lake I said I felt fine and that I jogged in a field at night; Ask to see Don and see if he sells gates, tents and dolls She talked of Noel and said she asked if he hated jogging I said I hated the doll and that I felt it had a tin leg;

HOUR 4: extra practice . and y

32 / Part 1: Drills

Extra practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

A sad lad asks a lass; all dads fall alas; a jaffa falls Dad asks a lad; alas a lass falls; Dad falls sad; a lass Jill filled a field; Jill feeds a lass; Jill kisses Dad; A lad killed a lass; a seal leaked alas; feed Dad seeds; He likes a dig; she likes a dig; all liked a dig; a lass Dad gashed his leg; a lad held a fig; see a jaffa field; Half of a fish had hidden in the sea; she held his head; She had no sign of the noon fog; The land had soon gone; He talked of the fate of those dolls; I said I felt fine She felt the fog lift late as she jogged into the field;

Hour 4: extra practice . and y / 33

. and y Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the l finger and take it down to the . Use the j finger and take it up to the y.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

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1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

hyn; yhn; nhy; hyn; yhn; nhy; hyn; yhn; nhy; hyn; yhn; nhy; lo. ol. .lo lo. ol. .lo lo. ol. .lo lo. ol. .lo lo. ol. .lo Yet. Yes. Yen. Nay. Hay. Gay. Say. Lay. Kay. Joy. Toy. Eye. yell they flay slay yank yoke yolk toys eyes says nays lays They all liked seeing the toys shining gaily on a shelf. The lads yelled as they yanked the leg of a little lass. I said that they yelled in joy at the toys on the shelf. His eyes said it all. He talked of this feeling of hate. The yolks of the little eggs lay shining in the toy tin. Slay the nasty hog. Lay it on the shelf in the tool shed

34 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

She felt the fog lift late as she jogged into the field; He talked of the fate of those dolls; I said I felt fine She had no sign of the noon fog; The lane had soon gone; Half of a fish had hidden in the sea; she held his head; Dad gashed his leg; a lad held a fig; see a jaffa field; He likes a dig; she likes a dig; all liked a dig; a lass Slay the nasty hog. Lay it on the shelf in the tool shed The yolks of the little eggs lay shining in the toy tin. His eyes said it all. He talked of this feeling of hate. I said that they yelled in joy at the toys on the shelf. The lads yelled as they yanked the leg of a little lass. They all liked seeing the toys shining gaily on a shelf.

HOUR 5: , and w r and b

36 / Part 1: Drills

, and w Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the k finger and take it down to the , Use the s finger and take it up to the w

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

ik, ,ki ki, ik, ,ki ki, ik, ,ki ki, ik, ,ki ki, ik, ,ki ki, wsw sws wsw sws wsw sws wsw sws wsw sws wsw sws wsw sws wsw way, was, wag, wan, wad, wet, wed, won, wok, wow, win, wig, wall well will west wash wish wind wand when wean week weak Ask the lady who was at the Dog Show to talk to the lad. We talked, we walked, we went in to tea, then we waited. We will wait while the lady talks to the tall, weak lad. What was the lad doing, whistling at those wagging dogs. We won the shiny toy, yet we did not win the tin shield. Wash the wig, so that she will want to look at it again.

Hour 5: , and w, r and b / 37

r and b Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the f finger and take it up to the r Use the f finger and take it down to the b

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

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H B

J N

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1; .

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# 1 Shift

Ctrl

frf rfr frf rfr frf rfr frf rfr frf rfr frf rfr frf rfr frf bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb gbg bgb beat bear bead beak bean been beef bell bill bass bees boil reel reef read reek roll rash rest root roof ride raid reed There were lots of boys in the band and they enjoyed it. The bread and rolls in the store had been there all day. The bread baked in the kiln tasted better than the rest. We had been riding the bikes all week and we were tired. The bear reeked of beef stew so we beat a hasty retreat. Billy had been rolling on the floor; he was boiling hot.

38 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

Wash the wig, so that she will want to look at it again. We won the shiny toy, yet we did not win the tin shield. What was the lad doing, whistling at those wagging dogs. We will wait while the lady talks to the tall, weak lad. We talked, we walked, we went in to tea, then we waited. Ask the lady who was at the Dog Show to talk to the lad. Billy had been rolling on the floor; he was boiling hot. The bear reeked of beef stew so we beat a hasty retreat. We had been riding the bikes all week and we were tired. The bread baked in the kiln tasted better than the rest. The bread and rolls in the store had been there all day. There were lots of boys in the band and they enjoyed it.

HOUR 6: m and u p and c

40 / Part 1: Drills

m and u Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the j finger and take it down to the m Use the j finger and take it up to the u

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

H B

J N

K M

L ,

1; .

1' /

# 1 Shift

Ctrl

jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj mjm jmj juj uju juj uju juj uju juj uju juj uju juj uju juj uju juj mast mash mars mats mail meal mile mole moon mend mind mint burn turn lure fuss dust rust must gust lust gush lush mush My older brother kindly mended my new motor bike for me. I must shut the toilet door and remember to use the key. We must make our dinner more interesting and nourishing. The wind gusted, and the mast blew around the main roof. My mum mended the sagging hems. It was most kind of her. The main meal of the day was boiled beef and mushy peas.

Hour 6: m and u, p and c / 41

p and c Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the ; finger and take it up to the p Use the d finger and take it down to the c

1

2 Q

3 W

4 E

5 R

6 T

7 Y

8 U

9 I

0 1 O

1P 1

= 1 [

1] Enter

Caps Lock

Shift

A

S Z

D X

F C

G V

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;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; p;p ;p; edc cdc edc cdc edc cdc edc cdc edc cdc edc cdc edc cdc edc pool push pump purl pram prim pram palm peel pure paid pile cart curt corn core cure care coal cash cell call clot clad The policeman pushed his cycle by the tall church clock. Appropriate care must be taken when photocopying papers. The prim and proper nanny pushed the pram down the path. Take care of the cash. Call David and pay him a portion. Pull the pump up carefully and the water will spurt out. The cart crashed past as it caught the edge of the path.

42 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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The main meal of the day was boiled beef and mushy peas. My mum mended the sagging hems. It was most kind of her. The wind gusted, and the mast blew around the main roof. We must make our dinner more interesting and nourishing. I must shut the toilet door and remember to use the key. My older brother kindly mended my new motor bike for me. The cart crashed past as it caught the edge of the path. Pull the pump up carefully and the water will spurt out. Take care of the cash. Call David and pay him a portion. The prim and proper nanny pushed the pram down the path. Appropriate care must be taken when photocopying papers. The policeman pushed his cycle by the tall church clock.

HOUR 7: v and x q and z

44 / Part 1: Drills

v and x Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the f finger and take it down to the v Use the s finger and take it down to the x

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rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv vfv rfv wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx xsw wsx vent vein vane vine view vole vale veil vile vice vest vamp oxen exit axis hoax taxi coax box, fox, cox, pox, fax, tax, A vexed taxi man viewed the jam with extreme impatience. The extra climb gave a better view over the next valley. The exit was hidden from the view of the old van driver. The fox jumped over the exit box and captured the voles. It was a police hoax and the vice teams were very vexed. Victoria views paying road taxes with very vivid hatred.

Hour 7: v and x, q and z / 45

q and z Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used. ◆ ◆

Use the a finger and take it up to the q Use the a finger and take it down to the z

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qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz aqa qaz zaq aza zaq aza zaq aza zaq aza zaq aza zaq aza zaq aza zaq aqua quit quay quid quod quiz quip quaint quota equal quell zoom zeal zest haze maze gaze laze fuzz buzz zulu lazy hazy Jo at the zoo asked quite odd questions about the zebra. The lady gazed at the buzzing bee down by the boat quay. He quit the jobs because he was a lazy and quiet worker. In order to coax Xavier to eat he devised a quaint plan. In the lazy, hazy days of summer it is quite often warm. The buzzy bee zoomed around the lazy queen as she cried.

46 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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Victoria views paying road taxes with very vivid hatred. It was a police hoax and the vice teams were very vexed. The fox jumped over the exit box and captured the voles. The exit was hidden from the view of the old van driver. The extra climb gave a better view over the next valley. A vexed taxi man viewed the jam with extreme impatience. The buzzy bee zoomed around the lazy queen as she cried. In the lazy, hazy days of summer it is quite often warm. In order to coax Xavier to eat he devised a quaint plan. He quit the jobs because he was a lazy and quiet worker. The lady gazed at the buzzing bee down by the boat quay. Jo at the zoo asked quite odd questions about the zebra.

HOUR 8: sentence drills

48 / Part 1: Drills

Sentence drills Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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A An old man had a fall and banged his head hard. B Buy a ball for Beth and bring it back in a bag. C Call the computer company to cancel collection. D Did I decorate the dining room during December. E Every evening after tea he went to see Georgie. F Fill a fat frog with food from the first floor. G Get a good grip on the gate, and drag it along. H Have a happy holiday at Hastings Hall in March. I I will fill it with a lining first to insulate. J Just ask Jane to judge the jitterbug and tango. K The kind king gave back a kettle to the tinker. L Linda lost her silver locket at Looe last year.

Shift

Hour 8: sentence drills / 49

M Some men made a magnificent machine from metal. N No new newspapers need to be sent to Ned today. 0 Clive opted to organise the food on the outing. P Please pack the pots into paper packs promptly. Q Queenie requested varied questions in the quiz. R Ronald ran a race to raise revenue for charity. S Show us some sea shells and shiny silver stars. T The toy teddy was fixed to the top of the tree. U The undergraduate undertook to shut up the box. V Very enviable views were seen from the village. W We got wet when we went walking near the woods. X The extra anxious taxi man was extremely vexed. Y They say they should pay for the toy by cheque. Z A bee buzzed lazily as it zoomed round the zoo.

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HOUR 9: figures

52 / Part 1: Drills

Figures Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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de3ed de3d d3d de3ed de3d d3d de3ed de3d d3d de3ed de3d ju7uj ju7j j7j ju7uj ju7j j7j ju7uj ju7j j7j ju7uj ju7j fr4rf fr4f f4f fr4rf fr4f f4f fr4rf fr4f f4f fr4rf fr4f ki8ik ki8k k8k ki8ik ki8k k8k ki8ik ki8k k8k ki8ik ki8k aq1qa aq1a a1a aq1qa aq1a a1a aq1qa aq1a a1a aq1qa aq1a sw2ws sw2s s2s sw2ws sw2s s2s sw2ws sw2s s2s sw2ws sw2s jy6yj jy6j j6j jy6yj jy6j j6j jy6yj jy6j j6j jy6yj jy6j fr5rf fr5f f5f fr5rf fr5f f5f fr5rf fr5f f5f fr5rf fr5f lo9ol lo9l l9l lo9ol lo9l l9l lo9ol lo9l l9l lo9ol lo9l ;p0p; ;p0; ;0; ;p0p; ;p0; ;0; ;p0p; ;p0; ;0; ;p0p; ;p0; 1qaz 2wsx 3edc 4rfv 5tgb 6yhn 7ujm 8ik, 9ol. 0p;/ 1qaz. zaq1 xsw2 cde3 vfr4 bgt5 nhy6 mju7 ,ki8 .lo9 /;p0 zaq1.

Hour 9: figures / 53

3 duds 33 dots 3 dons 33 dogs 3 duds 33 dots 3 dons 33 dogs 7 jugs 77 jars 7 jams 77 jigs 7 jugs 77 jars 7 jams 77 jigs 4 figs 44 feet 4 fees 44 fans 4 figs 44 feet 4 fees 44 fans 8 kits 88 keys 8 kids 88 kegs 8 kits 88 keys 8 kids 88 kegs This job lot was: 11 woollen suits, 1 blouse and 11 collars 2 saws 22 sons 2 suns 22 sets 2 saws 22 sons 2 suns 22 sets 6 jays 66 jobs 6 jets 66 jabs 6 jays 66 jobs 6 jets 66 jabs 5 fins 55 fibs 5 fags 55 firs 5 fins 55 fibs 5 fags 55 firs 9 logs 99 lads 9 lots 99 laws 9 logs 99 lads 9 lots 99 laws 20 pages; 30 pills; 40 papers 20 pages; 30 pills; 40 papers The man caught 26 pike, 15 roach, 36 tiddlers and 2 plaice. Jane got 16 marks in geography and just 14 marks in French.

54 / Part 1: Drills

Consolidation Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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There were 3 dogs, 33 cats, and 330 hamsters at the park. I saw 7 people on Monday, 77 on Tuesday, and 7 yesterday. Weigh out 4 oz of flour, 4 oz of sugar, and add the eggs. At 8 o’clock I went out to see the 88 horses at the show. I had 1 suit, 1 pair of trousers, 1 skirt and 11 jumpers. The 2 of us saw 2 plays at the theatre on the 22nd August. If you add 6 and 6 and 6 you will find the right answers. I think 5 is a nice round figure; 5 people and 5 animals. On the 9th September we went out at 9 pm in 9 cranky cars. The value is 0, but we really need a value of 100 or 200. Jane had 239 bars of chocolate, 56 lollies and 76 sweets. Add 569 to the totals of 890 and then you will have 1459.

HOUR 10: alphabetical paragraphs

56 / Part 1: Drills

Alphabetical paragraphs Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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The amazing monkey scampered quickly over the floor of the cage.

He was very excited as his keeper was just about to

feed him.

The extra homework given to the children did not keep them quiet and they jumped about the desks with ferocious zeal.

Jenny Pope was a fun loving, likeable girl.

She amazed

everyone with her quiet, but extremely considerate nature.

The excellent marks achieved by the student justly proved he was not lazy and that he was, in fact, really quite knowledgeable.

Hour 10: alphabetical paragraphs / 57

Send a telex to the Manager of the Zoo quoting the prices given in July for the supply of animal feed.

The Zoo

Keeper is urgently waiting for the information to be sent to him.

The girl quivered with fear as she watched the blaze.

A

bomb had exploded just outside the store where she had been shopping only a few moments earlier.

She wondered if

anyone had been killed.

Up

until

extra

time

had

been

played,

performed in quite a remarkable way. shot and almost scored a goal. praise given to him.

the

footballer

He zoomed in on every

He justly deserved the

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PART 2 ADDITIONAL TOUCH TYPING PRACTICE MATERIAL Sentence Practice

60 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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A Agatha Attwall added an attraction to the acrobatic act. Alan saw an animal across the Avenue.

It was a big cat.

B Bundle up the boxes by the bin and Billie will buy them. Barbara bounced the bats and balls across the boulevard.

C Catch the crafty cat as he creeps across the curtaining. Cook the crumbly cod bake in the Cannone cooker quickly.

D Dad did his usual good deed dividing the cod decisively. Did Danny deliver the dodgy DVD players to Darren today.

E Every television programme entertains us to some extent. Erica Enever lives in the village close to The Elephant.

Sentence Practice / 61

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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F Find a fat frog and float it in the fast flowing stream. Frank felt that he fought a fierce battle with Felicity.

G George got gold in the Olympics and a gilt gong in Peru. Give the gift to Geraldine.

She is a gifted, good girl.

H Harry has his hammer and his hacksaw handy at all times. He hesitated and held a hand up to halt the hitchhikers.

I In his haste he instigated the idea irrespective of her. I invited Ivy to join me in Iceland to visit my parents.

J John and Jan judged the juggling competition in January. Just join in and enjoy the javelin throwing at St Johns.

62 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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K Kathy and Kirsty kept kicking each other as they walked. Keep a close eye on Kitty.

Make sure she keeps her key.

L Let Lucy live in that lucky little house by the library. Let me type you a letter listing all the past loopholes.

M My mother made me mend my musical mat and then make tea. Milly Mollie Mandy made many new friends at the mansion.

N Ned and Nancy knew they needed to be together all night. Knit a nice sweater for Nancy to wear at the Barn Dance.

O Olive often opted for an old book rather than a new one. Go down to the office and look for the file I have lost.

Sentence Practice / 63

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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P Peter Piper picked a peppercorn and put it on his plate. Pack the pies into a paper packet and post them to Paul.

Q Queenie quoted the quiet kind gentleman from Queensland. The quiz show was quite busy and received many requests.

R Ring Rose to remind her of the Rolls Royce car on offer. Robert rolled down the road regretting his recklessness.

S See Simon and ask if he is singing in Selby on Saturday. Sarah stayed outside as her sister sat inside on a seat.

T Take the train to Taunton to paint the tantalising view. Trusty Tim told Tina that he caught the terrible tinker.

64 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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U Turn up at four today and you will not need to rush out. Up until then Ursula had been unaware of the shy butler.

V Victor Vasey lived up to his nickname of Viking Viceroy. Victoria lived in Liverpool with a view over the Mersey.

W Willy Wonka was a wonderful character who was in a book. We wondered where William was.

He wandered up the road.

X Extreme exercise can cause much exertion and exhaustion. Extra examinations can help Mary to exceed expectations.

Y If you yearn to play the oboe you have to try very hard. Yelling at the young child did not please Mandy Claydon.

Sentence Practice / 65

Sentence practice Remember: Type the line, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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Z In the lazy hazy days of summer, Suzannah zoomed around. Zak and Zoe visited the zoo and liked seeing the zebras.

1-5 Please ask for 1 tie, 2 shirts, 3 jackets and 4 jumpers. He had to put 55 pies in with the 3 pasties and 2 flans.

1-5 Adam scored 4 goals, had 23 near misses and 2 penalties. The recipe asked for 14 oz sugar, 5 oz flour, 3 oz marg.

6-10 We needed 6 cars, 8 motor bikes and 10 scooters to race. George scored 689, Alan scored 786 and Peter scored 876.

6-10 Amy bought 16 lollies, 18 sherbets and 9 chocolate bars. The A868 road to Hull passes close to the A968 and A789.

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Paragraph Practice

68 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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Christopher Jones handled the motor car extremely well.

He

was a quick driver and he went from zero to sixty in no time at all, but he did seem to know what he was doing and I always felt safe at his side.

The bee buzzed around the violet flowers.

It was quite

brightly coloured and it made a lot of noise.

I had just

started using my rake nearby, but as I am afraid of bees I had to stop until it buzzed away.

Jacqueline had been entered for the relay race.

She was a

pretty, zealous young thing, but her running was extremely slow and the other members of the team were not very pleased with her efforts to bring them luck.

Paragraph Practice / 69

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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It was just an amazing and appalling day.

It had started

quietly enough, but then all hell broke loose. not back to normal until the evening.

Things were

By then we had

experienced quite enough excitement for one day.

When all is said and done, Zoe could not have behaved any better.

She knew when to extract the information from him,

but just as she was about to do so, he collapsed on the floor.

She quickly got to him but it was too late.

All around the park people were enjoying themselves. was a lazy sort of day, quite warm and pleasant.

It

Children

played excitedly on the swings, climbing frame and slides. Everyone seemed to be happy and content.

70 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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At the Annual General Meeting the Chairman stated that the full quota of money had been used and that an exceptionally small amount was still available in reserve stock.

He said

there was no place for laziness if the company was to survive.

We all went out to play with our kites. day.

It was a lovely

All was quiet and calm until we started zooming

around at great speed.

We did enjoy ourselves.

After the

exercise we felt we needed a bath.

Sally was taken to Quazer for her fifteenth birthday treat. It was a cold day in the middle of January and everyone was extremely glad to get inside in the warm.

They played

three games and then went next door to have tea.

Paragraph Practice / 71

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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Zak was a very good boy.

He looked quite small and frail, but

he made up for it with his strength of character. his excellent company a lot.

I enjoyed

He was good fun and very polite.

Jane felt very lazy that day.

She had seen a wonderful but

scary film the night before and it had quite exhausted her. Her back ached and she had a painful headache.

She decided

to take things easy.

Jim’s memory of the event was very hazy.

He had received

quite a crack on the head and for a while he had been unconscious. and

even

headaches.

It took him a good few weeks to get over it

then

he

often

felt

sick

and

He looked very waxy and pale.

suffered

from

72 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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On

Boxing

pantomime.

Day

last

year

we

all

went

out

to

see

the

It was very enjoyable, particularly the clowns

who zoomed about the auditorium on their cycles.

We were

quite tired when we got home and spent a lazy evening in front of the black and white television.

Katy and Jacqueline caught the shoplifter just as he was about

to

leave

the

department

store.

They

were

very

excited when they told me about it, and I felt quite dazed by their account of events.

Paragraph Practice / 73

I am going on holiday to France in August.

I am already

getting very excited about it and hope to spend a lazy two weeks touring around the quiet countryside of Provence and Jura.

I hope the weather will be kind to me.

74 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Paragraph practice Remember: Type the paragraph, check, type again if you make a mistake. No delete key to be used.

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When I make a fruit cake I use 8 oz of flour, 6 oz of margarine, 5 oz of sugar, 18 oz of mixed dried fruit, 2 tablespoons of marmalade, 2 oz of glace cherries, 4 eggs and 1 tablespoon of milk.

When we went to the zoo we saw 6 alligators, 25 monkeys, 18

kangaroos,

25

elephants

and

64

lions.

We

were

disappointed in the number of tigers as there were only 15 on display out of a possible 30.

Please ask Mickey to process my order.

I would like 6 bags

of sugar, 4 bags of self raising flour, 10 tins of baked beans, 4 tins of chicken soup and 15 tins of tuna. he please deliver it on 20 February 2003.

Could

Longer Practice Pieces

The passages on the following pages are longer and will take more concentration. Type each piece, checking carefully at the end and correcting where necessary. Print out your work and keep a copy in a file to show your progress. Remember: use your hand chart if necessary, but under no circumstances should you look at the keys.

76 / Part 2: Additional Touch Typing Practice Material

Task 1 There are many opportunities available for a good secretary. A company will be only too pleased to promote a secretary to personal assistant or even higher if she has proved to be capable of more responsibility. The appointment to a higher position may be subject to a reference from the persons’ present boss, who should make sure the necessary information is received prior to interview by whoever is concerned with interviewing for the promotion. The more a company offers to its employees, the more it should expect to receive in return. I believe sufficient thought should be given to developing a structure of promotion which will apply to all.

Task 2 The hotel industry has suffered from the present recession just the same as everywhere else. Ordinary people no longer have as much money to spend and businesses are curtailing the activities of their reps and senior staff. Hotels have to try to compete with one another for their share of the market. It is said, however, that next year should see an upturn in the economy.

Task 3 The Fortune Hotel is one of a group of hotels owned by the Broker Group. It is set in the midst of East Anglia, near to the coast and the Norfolk Broads. The surrounding countryside shows rural England in the very best light. The town of Holt has a character all of its own. Many individual specialist shops sell a wide variety of goods and the Georgian façade of the buildings is an extra attraction. Every shopping need is catered for here, and back at The Fortune, every comfort is provided for your East Anglian holiday or business visit. We are sure that when you leave you will take home many pleasant memories.

Longer Practice Pieces / 77

THE COUNTRY BAR The Country Bar at The Fortune Hotel offers residents and non-residents an opportunity to relax in a restful, friendly atmosphere. The décor is designed to produce a feeling of well-being and tranquillity. No expense has been spared in supplying the lavish upholstery and curtains. All in all, the Country Bar is the place to be.

Task 4 STARTING A NEW JOB Points to Remember Arrive early and report to the person you have been asked to see. Take a notebook and pencil with you and make notes on anything relevant you are told on that first day. Although you might think you will remember you probably will not. Try to be friendly to everyone. Make a mental note of names as you are introduced to people. Always ask if you are given something to do that you do not understand. A person who has performed a particular task for many years will not stop to think that you might find it hard to pick up at first. Do not panic if everything goes wrong on your first day. Give it time and all will be well in the end.

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Task 5 THE FORTUNE HOTEL, HOLT, NORFOLK Set in beautiful East Anglian countryside, The Fortune offers the perfect combination of peace and quiet with excellent amenities. ROSE BOWL RESTAURANT Our Restaurant is well-known throughout the area for its fine cuisine and appealing décor. Meals are reasonably priced, and on a Saturday night dinner can be combined with dancing in the Pullman Suite afterwards. PULLMAN SUITE Apart from our regular dances, the Pullman Suite is available for private hire. It has its own bar and a superb dance floor. We can arrange a band or disco, or you can provide your own. COUNTRY BAR If you like a quiet drink in a restful atmosphere, or perhaps a light snack at lunchtime, then the Country Bar is the place to be.

Longer Practice Pieces / 79

Task 6 ANNUAL CHARITY FUN DAY The Fortune Hotel is planning to hold its fourth Annual Charity Fun Day on 1 August 20—, commencing at 1100 hrs. Admission is £2.00 for adults and £1.00 for children under 14. This year all proceeds will go to Cancer Research. Even the professional acts are giving their services free of charge, so we hope to make as much as possible for this worthy cause. There will be a variety of stalls. There will also be a bouncy castle, pony rides, full catering facilities and a car boot sale. All the facilities of the hotel will be available to everyone for the day, including the swimming pool, although an extra charge will be made for this. Tickets are available now, direct from the hotel. Admission will be by advance ticket only, so make sure of yours now as numbers are limited. The Fortune Hotel’s Charity Fun Day should prove to be the best local event of the year. See you there!

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Task 7 CURRICULUM VITAE Many job advertisements today ask for a Curriculum Vitae to be sent by way of application. A Curriculum Vitae actually means the course of your life. The term is frequently shortened to CV. Your CV should contain personal details such as date of birth, address, nationality, interests etc, as well as details of your education, examination results and any past job experience. If you have worked in the holidays mention this too. It should also contain the names and addresses of two referees, one of whom should be your present or past employer. If you have not been employed before, give the names of two people who have known you for a long time and can at least vouch for your character. Your Headteacher would be a good place to start. Whoever you give as referees, do remember to ask them first as this is common courtesy. Write out your CV in rough first, amend where necessary, and then produce the final copy. It is worth taking the time and trouble to prepare a neat and accurate CV. It is the first point of contact with your prospective employer, and even if you are not experienced, a neat and tidy, well-presented CV will impress. Obviously, as you gain more qualifications or job experience you should amend your CV accordingly. Accompanying your CV should be a brief covering letter explaining where you saw the advertisement and why you are interested in the vacancy.

Longer Practice Pieces / 81

Task 8 INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE If your CV impresses your prospective employer, you will receive a letter or telephone call asking you to attend for interview. Assuming you accept this invitation, you can help yourself by doing a little research in advance. Find out what you can about the company in question, what they do, how many employees etc. Make sure you know where their offices are, and find out about transport times if you are not travelling by car. If necessary do a ‘trial run’ first to check how long the journey takes. When you attend the interview you should arrive just two or three minutes early. Earlier than that and you will probably coincide with the applicant scheduled before you. Never arrive late. You will give a bad impression – the employer will assume you will always arrive late should you be employed by the company. Wear clothes that are smart and clean, but do not dress up to the extent that you feel uncomfortable. Never wear jeans. First impressions count for a lot, so make them as good as you can. If you feel nervous, remember that the interviewer may feel nervous too, after all she or he is a human being just as you are. The important thing is not to let your nerves get the better of you. Try to keep calm and answer all questions put to you as well as you are able. Sound interested in what the interviewer is saying and try to contribute enough information for him or her to see that you would be suitable for the position on offer. When you are asked if you have any questions, make sure you can think of something to ask – it shows you have been listening. When the interview is over, remember to thank the interviewer for his or her time. Usually a successful applicant for a job is notified fairly quickly, either by letter or telephone; you could even be told straight away. Good luck at interviews and in finding your dream job – or at least as near as you can get to it!

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Task 9 SECURITY Visitors Book All guests must sign the Visitors Book on arrival, stating their name, address, and date and time of arrival. When checking out of the Hotel, the date and time of departure should be inserted. Valuables The Hotel accepts no responsibility for valuables left in rooms. A safe is available for guests’ use and no charge is made for this service. Please ask at Reception for details. Theft In the unlikely event that a guest notices any item missing from his or her room, this should be reported immediately, either to Reception or to the Hotel Manager. Main Entrance Closure The Hotel’s Main Entrance and Reception will be closed from midnight to 0700 hrs each night for reasons of security. Guests requiring access during these times should ring the bell at the Main Entrance and inform the Night Porter of their name and room number. As long as he is satisfied, access will be granted. General Awareness Guests should, at all times, look after their property and not leave bags and cases lying around in Reception or corridors. They should also immediately report any suspicious packages they see to Reception or a member of staff. Any person suspected of theft will be questioned by the Manager and, if necessary, referred to the Police.

Longer Practice Pieces / 83

Task 10 REPORT ON VISIT TO THE GEORGE HOTEL I recently visited the George Hotel with the main aim of finding ways to improve our reception area. This was the first time I had been to the George since the opening of their new reception area in 2000. My first impression was of a bright and welcoming entrance hall and reception desk, with elegant and comfortable furniture. The actual reception desk was much larger than ours, and housed many leaflets of local interest, as well as full information on all aspects of the hotel! There were two receptionists on duty and they both wore smart uniforms – much more up-to-date than our own. Specific points of operation were as follows: Guests are greeted at the door by a porter who introduces himself and then escorts them to the reception desk. The receptionist books the guests in and gives them some verbal information on the facilities of the hotel. She then makes sure they have the opportunity to collect the relevant literature from the reception desk. A porter escorts the guests to their room. Arrangements for paper delivery, alarm calls etc, are made afterwards when either one of the porters or a receptionist visits the guests personally in their room approximately one hour after arrival and checks that everything is in order. At that time any special requests can be noted. Obviously, in addition, room service and telephone contact is available twenty-four hours a day. A table has been prepared showing differences between our two hotels. I feel that certain of their policies should be implemented at The Fortune when we make our changes next year. Another visit nearer the time could decide specific ways to make improvements.

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PART 3 REFERENCE GUIDE

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Important Symbols and General Rules Capital letters When a group of letters or words are in capitals it is best to use the Caps Lock key. Usually a light will show that it is switched on. For single capital letters, one of the shift keys should be used. There are a number of rules for the use of capital letters at the beginning of a word: ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Always start a sentence with a capital letter Always use a capital for the word ‘I’ when talking about yourself Use a capital at the start of direct speech Use initial capitals for names of people, places and proper nouns Use initial capitals for titles of books, films etc Use capitals for days of the week and months of the year, but not for seasons.

Look at the following: The name of the company was WILLIAM BLACKMAN ASSOCIATES. Add FOUR eggs and FOUR teaspoons of milk to the mixture. The latest book by Alison Stuart is called ‘The Driver’. I am going to Spain in July. I love sitting in the sun.

Hyphens and dashes The same key is used for both functions. The hyphen comes between two words, eg, sky-scraper, or instead of the word ‘to’, eg, 1820 High Street. It does not have a space either side of it. The dash is used if a breath or a pause is taken. It is often used instead of brackets or a comma. It always has a space on either side. Look at the following: The re-covering of the chairs was really necessary. From 18-20 January we expect to be in Kings Street. If I have to go – as is possible – I will ring you. The show – the only one this month – was very good.

Important Symbols and General Rules / 87

Exclamation mark As its name suggests, this mark indicates an exclamation and it should be used very sparingly. Its general use is to inject humour or emphasis into a sentence or paragraph. Look at the following: What a silly girl you are! Fancy falling over in the playground. Bravo! You have really done so very well.

Question mark A question mark is shown at the end of a sentence which asks a question. It can also be used in business correspondence to show a query on a date or time etc. Look at the following: Why are you going now? Can I go to the house with you? Can you see her? Is she in the top row or at the back? The letter is due to arrive by ? February at the latest.

Round brackets When using brackets in a sentence, make sure the sentence still makes sense if the brackets are removed. Generally speaking, the words in the brackets should add some extra explanation to the sentence. Do not use a capital letter for the first word in the bracket, unless for a particular reason. Similarly, a full stop is not needed at the end of the bracketed words. Look at the following: Entries (preferably on a postcard) to be sent to us by tomorrow. Rachel King (the new committee member) will address the meeting.

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Square brackets These are rarely used. Their only real use is to show an addition to a direct quotation: Look at the following: Mr Brown said in his report: ‘I am so sorry about the lack of pay rise this year, but I hope that you [the employees] will understand the situation.’

Quotation marks These are used for quotations or direct speech. Either single or double can be used according to preference. Try the following: “My project for the year is ‘The Rain Storm’,” said Tom. ‘I hope you will be able to see our new play “Rafters”,’ said Mary.

Apostrophes This is the same symbol as the single quotation mark. An apostrophe is used for two reasons: 1) To show possession. The cat’s owner lives up the road. (the owner of the cat) The plural is shown in two ways: The ladies’ shoes were made of leather. (s’ apostrophe as ‘ladies’ ends in s) The children’s shoes were all over the room. (apostrophe + s because the Subject, ‘children’ does not end in s) 2) To show omission. An apostrophe can be used to shorten words and is placed at the point where The letters are missing, eg, don’t, won’t, I’ve, it’s, you’re. Look at the following: Susan’s friend was Hilda. Hilda’s mum knew Susan’s mum. Your shoes are the smartest I’ve seen. They’re so cool. The dog hurt its paw. It’s a good thing you were there. The children’s homework is hard. They’ve got lots to do.

Important Symbols and General Rules / 89

Oblique, solidus or slash This is used in references or to show options. Look at the following: I have the reference to MCD/645 when I typed the letter. I/we are hoping to show my/our pictures at the gallery.

Ampersand or & This should only be used in company names, in accepted abbreviations, or in tables where space is at a premium. Look at the following: Smith & Jones, together with Brookers & Son, came today. E & OE, if on forms means Errors and Omissions Excepted.

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More General Rules Numbers Generally speaking, and unless given specific instructions, numbers can be expressed in either figures or words, so long as consistency is maintained within a document. In newspapers, figures are usually used up to 10 and then words above 10. This is also acceptable.

Sums of money within continuous text Pounds and pence have a decimal point (full stop) separating them, eg, £6.50. Always take the pence figure to two decimal places and never type £ and p in one sum. If only pence are involved they can be expressed as 50p or 50 pence. If only pounds are involved there is no need to take the figures to two decimal places, eg, £12, £14.

Measurements and weights When typing metric measurements or weights, leave one space after the figures before the unit of measurement. Abbreviations are acceptable. You do not need to add an ‘s’ for a plural. Examples of metric measurements and weights: 16 mm, 18 cm, 10 kg. Feet and inches can be written in one of the two following ways: 6’ x 4” (using the single and double quotation marks with no space after figures) or 6 ft x 4 in (leaving one space after the figures) Note: and ‘x’ can be used for ‘by’, eg, 5’ x 24”.

Temperature Metric temperature is expressed as degrees Celsius (°C). Examples of temperatures: 26 °C, 14° – a space is left after the figures if C follows the degree sign, but no space is left if it does not.

More General Rules / 91

Date Normally type the date as day, month and year with no punctuation in between: 13 September 2003. TWELVE AND TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CLOCK – When typing the twelve hour clock, am or pm should be inserted one space after the figures and a full stop should be placed between the hours and the minutes, eg, 9.30 am, 3.00 pm. With the twenty-four hour clock, no full stop or space is inserted in the figures and the times are followed by hrs or hours. There should always be four figures showing the hours and the minutes, eg, 0930 hrs, 1500 hrs.

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Line Spacing When using a word processing program it is possible to change the line spacing according to the kind of typewritten work you are producing. There are three main types of line spacing:

Single line spacing Single line spacing is used for most typing. This paragraph is typed in single line spacing. This means that each line starts immediately under the one before with only a minimum of space in between.

Double line spacing Double line spacing is used for draft documents so that corrections can be made. It is also

used to display work more effectively. This paragraph is typed in double line spacing.

This means leaving one clear line of space between every line of typing.

One and a half line spacing This paragraph has been typed in one and a half line spacing. This means leaving half a line of space between each line of typing. Like double line spacing it is useful for display purposes.

Line Spacing, Fonts and Margins / 93

Fonts There are many different types of font available when using a modern word processing program. The word font actually means typeface. Examples of fonts are Times New Roman, which is known as a ‘serif’ font (with tails or fancy bits on the letters), and Arial which is known as a ‘sans serif’ font (without tails). Each font comes in different sizes called ‘point sizes’ and Times New Roman 12 will not look the same as Arial 12 because the font types are different to begin with. With most fonts you will see that each letter takes up a different amount of space. This is called proportional spacing, eg, ‘m’ takes up less space than ‘i’. For touch typing practice it is best to use a fixed font such as Courier New, where each letter takes up the same amount of space. Use Courier New 12 for the drills and then each line should finish at the same place. Examples:

This is Times New Roman with a point size of 12 This is Arial with a point size of 12 This is Courier New with a point size of 12.

Margins It is usual to have 2.5 cm or 1” all round a document. Most word processing programs will set this automatically for you.

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Paper Sizes 210mm (8 1/4”) 297mm (11 3/4”)

A4 Portrait Paper

A4 Landscape Paper 297mm (11 3/4”) 210mm (8 1/4”)

Paper Sizes/ 95

Paper Sizes A5 Portrait Paper

148mm (5 7/8”) 210mm (8 1/4”)

A5 Landscape Paper

210mm (8 1/4”) 148mm (5 7/8”)

96 / Part 3: Reference Guide

Manuscript Correction Signs Sign

Meaning

Example

Change to capital letters

Minutes of the Meeting

Change to small letters

Where is the Pool?

Change to spaced capitals

AGENDA

Leave a space

The booksare due today.

No space between characters or words

They arrived be fore lunch.

These signs in margin mean put back crossed through words with dotted line below

Her exam results were poor and she is very lazy.

Insert additional matter at point shown

Tomorrow we shall have a picnic.

Start a new paragraph at the point indicated

Thank you for your letter. When I see you next week, shall we go out to lunch?

Do not start a new paragraph

We did very well last year. Next year should be even better.

Deletions – words removed

We apologise for the serious error.

Reverse order horizontally

She was pretty, slim and young.

Reverse order vertically

Smith P Smith M

An unfamiliar or badly written word is shown in the margin. It should not be typed in capitals

Smith P Smith M

Manuscript Correction Signs and Abbreviations with Correct Spellings / 97

Abbreviations and their Correct Spellings accom a/c(s) advert(s) approx appt(s) asap bn bus cat(s) co(s) cttee(s) dr def dept(s) dev exam ffly f/t hr(s) immed info mfr(s) misc mth necy org p/t poss prob rec’d ref(s) resp sinc sh shd temp thro w wd wh wl yr(s)

accommodation account(s) advertsement(s) approximately appointment(s) as soon as possible been business catalogue(s) company(ies) committee(s) dear definitely department(s) develop examination faithfully full-time hour(s) immediately information manufacturer(s) miscellaneous month necessary organisation part-time possible probably received reference(s) responsible sincerely shall should temporary through with would which will your(s) year(s)

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Putting Together Sentences and Paragraphs Almost all typing involves the use of sentences, paragraphs and headings. It is therefore important to know something about the construction of sentences and paragraphs and how to display them along with their headings.

Sentences According to The Oxford Guide to the English Language, a sentence is ‘a set of words making a single complete statement’. To put it another way, a sentence must make sense and it must have a subject and a predicate. ◆

◆

The subject is the person or thing being discussed in the sentence. It is normally a noun (a name of a person or thing, eg, Sarah, John), or a pronoun (a word used instead of a noun, eg, he, she). The predicate says something about the subject and it must contain a verb (a doing word, eg, speaks, ran).

Example of a sentence:

Sentences can be short or long, but never make them longer than necessary. Long sentences can be used in descriptive work. Short sentences are better for giving emphasis or a sense of urgency. Try to keep just one item in each sentence otherwise the meaning becomes clouded.

Paragraphs A paragraph is one or more sentences grouped around a central theme or subject. When that theme or subject changes, a new paragraph should begin. Every paragraph should have one sentence which describes the theme or subject for that whole paragraph. Like sentences, paragraphs can vary greatly in length, but generally speaking they should not be too long or else the effect of the meaning is weakened.

Putting Together Sentences and Paragraphs / 99

Different kinds of paragraphs Blocked A blocked paragraph means that every line starts at the set left hand margin as in this example. In common with all paragraphs an extra line of space should be left between them. This blocked method is quick to type and neat in appearance.

Indented This is the indented style where the first line of each paragraph begins approximately half an inch (1.25 cm) in from the left margin. These are rarely used nowadays.

Hanging This type of paragraph is even more rare, but it does sometimes appear in examinations. This is a hanging paragraph and, as you will see, the first line starts to the left of the rest of the paragraph.

Numbered and lettered paragraphs 1 This is a numbered paragraph. The number can be set ‘inside’ the paragraph like this. 2

This is also a numbered paragraph, but with the number left ‘outside’ as in this example.

a

This is a lettered paragraph and it can be used in either of the above ways, although ‘outside’ tends to be clearer.

(b) This is yet another lettered paragraph with the letter typed inside brackets.

Note: When typing in single line spacing, one clear line should be left between paragraphs (2 x return). The same applies to double line spacing (2 x return).

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Headings Blocked or shoulder headings These are the most common headings in use today. They usually accompany blocked paragraphs. The heading is typed at the left margin and then at least one line of space is left before typing the text. Headings can be typed in closed capitals, spaced capitals, or initial capitals. With spaced capitals, leave one space between each letter and three spaces between each word.

Centred heading This heading, as you will see, appears in the centre of the typing line.

Paragraph heading With this type of heading, the heading is typed first, then three spaces are left and the text is typed on the same line. As in this example, emphasise the heading in some way, using italics, underline, bold or capital letters.

Side or marginal heading

This type of heading is often used for minutes of meetings or a Curriculum Vitae, where the headings are set down the left hand side of the page, with at least two spaces after the longest line before the text begins.

The Business Letter / 101

The Business Letter The business letter is a very important form of communication. It should be: ◆

Well presented

◆

Brief and to the point

◆

Accurate

◆

Easy to read and understand.

Planning a letter As with all forms of written communication, decide first on the purpose of your letter and what you want to achieve. Then make a list of the points to be covered. Your letter should contain an opening paragraph which sets the scene for the rest of the letter. The main points to be covered should be sub-divided into further paragraphs. The final paragraph normally contains a summing up of the contents and any recommendations. Do not make your sentences or paragraphs too long. Most letters are produced with what is known as the fully blocked layout and using open punctuation. This means all the typing starts at the left of the page and there is no punctuation except in the main body of the letter.

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The parts of a business letter 1

The company printed heading.

2

References. Only insert a ‘Your Ref’ if previous correspondence from the recipient shows a reference. ‘Our Ref’ is usually the initials of the sender and of the typist, plus a file number if appropriate.

3

The date. All letters must be dated.

4

Any special message. ‘For the Attention of’, ‘Confidential’ etc.

5

Name and address of the person the letter is going to. Use a separate line for the postcode and put the post town in capitals. (For foreign addresses put the country in capitals.)

6

The salutation or greeting. Use a personal name if possible rather than Dear Sir/Madam.

7

The subject heading.

8

Main body of letter, subdivided into paragraphs.

9

Complimentary close. Use ‘Yours faithfully’ if letter starts ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ and ‘Yours sincerely’ if letter starts ‘Dear Mr Bloggs’.

10 The name of the company can, if required, be shown after the complimentary close. 11 The name of the sender and his/her designation (position). 12 The enclosure mark. This indicates that something has been enclosed with the letter. Sometimes you will see ‘att’ for attached. This means much the same.

The Parts of a Business Letter / 103

1

2

COMPANY HEADED PAPER

Your ref CWJ/ABD Our ref PJD/PS @ 3 2 July 200@ 4 URGENT @ 5 Mrs A Boyd 23 Sheland Street CENTRETOWN Norfolk NR54 90J @ 6 Dear Mrs Boyd @ 7 CHRISTMAS PROMOTION @ You may remember that we wrote to you in March asking for your expected requirements this year. You kindly sent us an estimated figure but asked us to contact you again later on. @ 8 We are now preparing our Christmas programme and enclose a copy for your perusal. You will see that TEDDY BEAR FLASHING LIGHTS are a new addition to our usual range and we are sure that at £10.99 a set they will prove to be a real winner. @ If you would like further information on any of the products contained in the programme, our representative will gladly call on you. Otherwise we look forward to receiving your order by post or fax by the end of July. @ 9 Yours sincerely 10 DASERS ENTERTAINMENT LTD @ @ @ @ 11 Phillip J Dean SALES DIRECTOR @ 12 enc Note: @ = 1 clear line space

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Memos Like a letter, a memo is a form of written communication. Unlike a letter, however, it usually stays within an organisation and passes from one department to another as internal correspondence. Most companies have their own headed memo paper. An example of a memo is shown below:

MEMORANDUM From

Alan Carter

To

Alice Smith

Date

22 November 20—

Ref

AC/ABC

CLOSURE OF SNACK BAR A memo has been sent to all office staff advising them of the closure of the snack bar from 6-13 December. As soon as you receive the Order Sheets from the various personnel, you should log the requirements in your own book. Send off your order to Plank & Co by 3 December, so that there are no ‘hitches’. I am enclosing a list of products I think you should be including in the order. Thank you for all your help with these arrangements. enc.

Points to remember when typing a memo ◆

The contents of a memo are usually much less formal than in a business letter because the people normally know each other.

◆

There is no address as there is on a business letter as the memo is usually internal.

◆

The main body of the memo should be typed in single line spacing.

◆

If an enclosure or attachment is mentioned, type ‘enc’ as in a business letter. Leave a few lines of space before typing this to allow for someone to initial the memo before it is sent out.

Memos and Emails / 105

Emails The sending of daily emails is now a very important part of the lives of a good proportion of the population. Email stands for ‘electronic mail’. When you send an email you are communicating with others via your telephone line and computer. When you go ‘on-line’ you are given an email address that usually starts with your choice of name followed by an @ sign and the address of your Internet Service Provider.

Points to remember when sending an email ◆

Make sure it is really necessary. There are too many emails sent just as a way of passing time.

◆

Take time to word your email carefully. Remember that it is a form of written communication and could be interpreted in the wrong way.

◆

Do not use bad language. It is discourteous.

◆

Do not send an email containing confidential information. It is too risky and may be read by the wrong person.

◆

Keep your email brief and to the point.

◆

Remember that you can send ‘attachments’ or other files with your emails.

An example of an email prepared in Microsoft Word is shown below:

106 / Part 3: Reference Guide

Reports A report is intended to pass information from a person who has collected it to a person who has asked for this information. Reports in some shape or form are very common in business life. They can cover many subjects and they can be very simple as well as very complex.

Planning a report Before compiling any report, certain questions should be asked: ◆

What is the purpose of the report?

◆

Who is going to read it?

◆

How will you obtain the necessary information?

◆

How will you present the report?

Once you have the answers to these questions clear in your mind you are ready to start preparing your report.

Typical structure of a report Most reports will contain the following: ◆

The title.

◆

The introduction – stating what the report is about.

◆

The main body – where all the relevant information is set out and sub-divided into paragraphs as necessary. Make sure you proceed in a logical way, leading the reader on from one point to the next.

◆

The conclusion and any recommendations – giving definite reasons for both.

◆

Acknowledgements – if someone has helped you with your report, then it is polite to mention their name at the end. Similarly, if you have used material from books or newspapers, you should list your sources.

◆

Appendices – for any additional information.

Reports / 107

Compiling a report step-by-step Make sure you know the purpose of the report. Decide what the report should aim to achieve. Gather together all the relevant information. Sort the information into logical order. Prepare a first draft of the report. Read and amend where appropriate. Prepare a final copy of the report. Circulate the report as necessary. There are many different ways of presenting a report. The example on the next page shows a simple presentation.

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REPORT ON VISIT BY ROBERT POWER TO PROPOSED NEW CARAVAN SITE AT BEACHY POINT, NEWTOWN, DORSET Date of Visit: Friday 14 December 20— I met Robin Payne on site at 0930 hours. He explained that the land available extended to 200 acres, which should be sufficient for our needs. ACCESS Access did not appear to be a problem. There were three access roads leading onto the site and all of these joined a main road within half a mile. SUITABILITY OF LAND The entire site was reasonably flat and would need little levelling. There were a number of trees, many of which would have to stay, but these should not present any problems. PRICE The negotiated price would seem to be a fair one. It would obviously be a huge commitment to all of us involved, which must be carefully thought about. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS My own conclusion was that the investment would be a good one. The site seemed absolutely ideal. I would recommend that everyone gives this matter immediate consideration as other parties are now interested in purchasing the site too. Please could I have your decisions by Monday 7 January 20—.

Other Titles from How To Books The A-Z of Correct English, Angela Burt, 2002 CVs for Graduates, Gerald Higginbottom, 2002 CVs for High Flyers, Rachel Bishop-Firth, 2002 A Handbook for Writers of English, John G. Talyor, 2002 Increase Your Word Power, Angela Burt, 2002 Job Hunt on the Net, Julie-Ann Amos, 2000 Passing Psychometric Tests, Andrea Shavick, 2002 Persuasive Business Writing, Patrick Forsyth, 2002 Returning to Work, Sally Longson, 2002 The Ten Career Commandments, Rob Yeung, 2002 Write a Winning CV, Julie-Ann Amos, 2001 For comprehensive information on how To Books’ titles visit How To Books on line at www.howtobooks.co.uk

Increase Your Word Power Angela Burt Are you sometimes lost for words? This useful book shows you how to boost your word power for good. Find out where words come from and how to discover their meanings. Know how to distinguish between confusing pairs (such as disinterested/ uninterested, perspicacity/perspicuity) and understand the word roots that will give you the sense of related words (e.g. Greek kronos – time – gives anachronism, chronic, chronological, synchronise). Get to know the meanings and origins of foreign words and phrases (e.g. carte blanche, de facto, doppelgånger) and find out who or what gave their names to words such as bikini, fuchsia, nicotine, salmonella, and sideburns. You’ll find collective nouns, eponyms, Americanisms, and lots, lots more. The structured exercises will ensure you always have the right word for the job. The author, Angela Burt, has had a successful career as an English teacher and examiner, and now runs a proofreading company. She has written many other books including The A-Z of Correct English.

“For students and general readers who want to learn more words – and to know more about them.”

A Handbook for Writers of English John G. Taylor Unrivalled for depth, detail and examples, this book is a must for every writer’s shelf. Whether you’re writing for academic, business or professional purposes, it clearly sets out rules and practice. Detailed guidance on: ◆ Punctuation and abbreviations ◆ Presentation of tables, references and footnotes ◆ Roman figures, special and foreign characters ◆ UK-US spelling, foreign phrases ◆ Metric conversions, currency and prices ◆ Layout and proof correcting ◆ Prefixes, suffixes and hyphenation John Taylor lectures at university level and has over 20 years’ experience as a proofreader, interpreter, translator, and language consultant for research institutions.

“An ideal handbook for preparing and presenting written material. Writers, academics and professionals alike will find it invaluable.”

The A-Z of Correct English Angela Burt Use this book to avoid common errors in English. Whatever you’re writing, it will answer all your questions on spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage. “Angela Burt is a quiet hero for thousands of people. This book is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. It solves all those niggles about spelling, possessives, style... It’s a bible of rectitude. Never dogmatic, never patronising, it’s a book that belongs close to the desk of every person who has to put pen to paper. A book that will grow dog-eared with use. You’ll always be grateful that it was written.” – Michael Carson, author Angela Burt has had a successful career as an English teacher and examiner and now runs a proofreading company. She has written many other books on the correct use of the English language, including Increase Your Word Power. Revised and updated 2nd edition